Published: Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11:49 p.m.

ARCADIA, Calif. — Hear the Ghost rallied to run down Flashback and Goldencents in the stretch and win the $300,000 San Felipe Stakes by a half-length at Santa Anita on Saturday, inserting himself into the Kentucky Derby picture.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Hear the Ghost covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.34 and paid $13.80, $4.60 and $3.60 at 5-1 odds in the field of eight 3-year-olds.

Flashback, the even-money favorite trained by Bob Baffert, returned $2.60 and $2.40. Tiz a Minister was another half-length back in third and paid $4 to show. Goldencents, the 2-1 second choice trained by Doug O'Neill, was fourth after being on the lead.

Trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Hear the Ghost came charging down the middle of the track to overtake the tiring duo of Flashback and Goldencents, who clocked fast fractions as they hooked up approaching the stretch turn.

Flashback and Goldencents came into the race as the top two Derby prospects on the West Coast. Flashback, a gray colt in just his third career race, won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes by 6¼ lengths last month.

Goldencents won the Sham Stakes in January, making 3 of 4. They engaged in the sizzling pace initially set by Salutos Amigos. The opening quarter was clocked at 22.97 seconds and the half-mile in 45.95.

Kentucky-bred gelding Hear the Ghost is lightly raced, with just three starts on his record. He won his career debut by 3¼ lengths going six furlongs on Betfair Hollywood Park's synthetic surface in December.

The son of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper finished second over the same distance in the $75,000 San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 21.

TAMPA BAY: Verrazano survived a small stumble out of the gate to easily beat the field at the Grade II $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday. The win helps solidify the 3-year-old as a legitimate Kentucky Derby favorite.

The 2-5 betting favorite passed Falling Sky before the half-mile mark and cruised to victory three lengths ahead of a late-charging Java's War. Falling Sky held on for third.

Verrazano, who remains undefeated on the year, covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:43.96, returned $2.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Java's War, a 32-1 long shot, paid $14.60 and $8 while Falling Sky paid $4.60.

The exacta paid $43.20 and a 6-4-9 trifecta paid $282.20.

Despite being a heavy favorite, Verrazano was making his stakes debut on a difficult track he had never run.

“He definitely showed us that he can overcome an early stumble and deal with a little dirt in his face,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We found out that he could travel well and handle two turns. All the things we were worried about he overcame them pretty well.”

With previous victories of 7¾ lengths and 16¼ lengths at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., Verrazano arrived at the track with high expectations.

After stumbling coming out of the gate on Saturday, Verrazano quickly went to the outside rail and battled with Falling Sky down the backstretch before taking a lead near the half-mile mark. From that point on, the colt easily fended off all challengers and extended the lead heading into the final stretch.

Winning jockey John Velazquez said the horse cut himself a bit on the stumble, but settled down quickly.

AQUEDUCT: At New York, Maleeh rallied for a 2¾-length victory over long shot Tenango in the $100,000 Fred Capossela Stakes for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

The colt trained by Kiaran McLaughlin improved to 2 for 2 with both wins coming at Aqueduct. Fifth in the early stages, Maleeh sailed past Clawback, the 3-5 favorite, in the final furlong and finished strongly under a vigorous hand ride by Eddie Castro.

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